Birthday Weekend!

As promised it has been a weekend packed chock full of fantastic and wonderful things, all contributing to make this one of my best birthdays ever. The Best Guy Ever sat down to watch my favorite movie of all time with me, Better Off Dead, while eating pizza from Papa Murphy's, and laughing at all the right parts. The movie itself was a gift from my dear friend Sara, who almost made me cry because it was so damn perfect (did I mention I'm not really very complex? It's the simple things in life that mean the most for me dear reader(s), and a friend remembering your favorite movie is better than a truckload of diamonds and/or pearls, know'm'sayin'?). Afterwards we went out for ice cream (we put the tip in the jar and then ran, absolving us of any responsibility. Knowing they had to sing because of the tip, but not being present as actual witnesses...), then to see Tropic Thunder, which I think is one of the funniest movies of all time. The movie theater was packed (I couldn't even have my one-open-seat buffer between me and the nearest stranger!), but at some point I noticed that while Best Guy Ever and I were both laughing so hard tears were streaming out of my eyes, other people weren't finding the guy trying to shove fake innards back into his open stomach quite so funny. I don't really know why the whole movie theater full of people was wrong, they just were. That scene was hilarious, no doubt about that.

On Saturday, Best Guy Ever and I took the kids to Grandma's and drove my mom's convertible out to my hometown to visit a friend I've only seen once in the last 10 years. Cassisita was 1/3 of the troublemaking trio that moved from Smalltownville to Alaska 14 years ago at the ages of 18 (me), 19 (Krispity Krunchity), and 20 (Cassisita), and although we lost touch for awhile, I love my ex-roomie dearly. Cassisita's husband's 40th birthday was the same day as my 34th, so an enormous backyard BBQ complete with live band and bonfire was held at her brother in law's house next to the air field. Best Guy Ever was brave enough to climb a ladder 32 feet into a tree and try the zip line, but I missed out on my big chance. It was only after a lengthy discussion later that I learned how much Best Guy Ever weighs, thereby assuring me that his going first down the zip line would have been an adequate test of weight capacity. We also momentarily ditched the BBQ to drive down to the beach and sit in the open car, listening to music, talking, and maybe a little bit of making out. I think making out with a hot guy in a convertible with the top down is one of my new favorite things to do, and I'm not even going to lament the fact that I'd never done it before now.

Today I'm looking forward to a day spent with my kids, my mom, my nephew, and (maybe) my sister; celebrating for the third day in a row the fact that I was born. It feels like this is the universe's way of apologizing for that whole last year of bad luck; saying sorry for putting me through the ringer but giving me a wink and a high five for making it through it alright. The universe can be a pretty big jerk sometimes, but in the end I think his conscience does catch up. I've had enough of drinking from the tainted glass of Karmic Kool-Aid, and I think I'm going to take some time now to go back to enjoying a plastic wine glass full of the best apple wine that can be bought with a five dollar bill. Life is great, and THAT is what I want to swim in until my fingers get all pruney...

I am grateful for EVERYTHING.

-Tasha